Combination crib bed and dressing table for infants



H. K. SAXE 3,427,666 COMBINATION CRIB BED AND DRESSING TABLE FOR INFANTS Feb. 18, 1969 Sheet Filed May 23, 1967 INVENTOR.

HERBERT K. SAXE ATTORNEY H. K- SAXE Feb. 18, 1969 COMBINATION CRIB BED AND DRESSING TABLE FOR INFANTS Sh eet Filed May 23, 1967 FIG.5

INVENTUR. HERBERT K. SAXE m ATTORNEY United States Patent 14 Claims Int. Cl. A47 (1 11/00; A47b 83/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Crib (FIG. 2) has a hinged side 16 which lowers onto support 22 to form a dressing table. Door 46 opens into a cabinet beneath the crib mattress 32.

Background of the invention This invention relates to an improved crib bed for infants, and more particularly to an improved crib bed having a built-in dressing table.

Anew baby in the household often creates serious space problems. The problems are particularly acute if the family is housed in a small apartment. Two pieces of baby furniture which are generally regarded as essential are a crib bed in which the infant sleeps, and a dressing table which is at a height convenient for changing the infants clothing.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improved infants crib bed which saves space by combining a dressing table in the same structure.

Another problem particularly encountered in conrfined living space is the necessity for moving the babys furniture from one spot to another. Typically, in a small apartment, the babys furniture must be moved into a bedroom for privacy for the babys nap during the day, and then moved to the living room to afford separation and privacy for the baby and his parents at night.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide an improved infants crib bed which is easily moved and which embodies other functional purposes for the baby which are advantageously moved together with the crib.

Another problem in infant care is the necessity for lifting the baby from the crib to a remote dressing table every time he need-s the ordinary attention of a diaper change. This lifting and carrying can become a very burdensome chore, and many mothers of young babies develop serious back troubles from such lifting as their infants grow and gain in weight.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination crib and dressing table having the advantage of minimizing the lifting and moving of the baby.

Another functional problem which must be solved for the new baby is the provision of adequate storage for clean diapers and other clothing items in a place which is convenient to the dressing table.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide an improved crib structure which not only combines a dressing table but also combines storage cabinets built into the crib structure and movable therewith.

Another problem in this connection is that if the diapers and other clothing are not stored in a position within easy reach of the dressing table, there is a temptation to leave the baby on the dressing table while going for the needed clothing. This is dangerous because an active baby is likely to roll off of the dressing table. Furthermore, the problem of having the clean clothing supply convenient to the dressing table is aggravated if the dressing table is moved from place to place in accommodating for crowded space conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination crib and dressing table having built-in cabinets which are always conveniently accessible when the dressing table portion of the apparatus is open and in use, and within such close and convenient reach that the clothing can be picked up without releasing ones hold on the Wiggly infant.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination crib and dressing table which is not only characterized by a high degree of mobility, but which is also very stable so that it is not subject toaccidental tilting or collapse, a characteristic which is sometimes encountered with ordinary folding dressing tables.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Summary 0) the invention In carrying out the invention in one preferred form thereof, there may be provided a crib bed for infants having a crib body and one side panel which is hingedly fastened at its bottom edge to the crib body. The side panel opens by swinging outwardly and downwardly to a substantially horizontal position to serve as a dressing table for the infant.

In accordance with another feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the crib body includes a. mattress support portion and defines a storage cabinet positioned and arranged beneath the mattress support portion.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the crib of the present invention in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with one side panel of the crib in the open position to form a dressing table, and with a storage cabinet portion of the crib open to make the contents available to the reach of the user.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the side panel in the open position as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown from the side opposite to the side which opens to form the dressing table.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken at section 5-5 of FIG. 3, and showing a preferred arrangement of the storage cabinets.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a crib embodying the features of the present invention and having a crib body with two end panels 10 and 12 and two side panels 14 and 16 attached thereto. At the end of the crib beneath the end panel .10, there are provided two wheels 18, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1. At the other end of the crib beneath en'd panel 12, there are provided two supporting feet 20, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1.

Crib side panel 16 is hi-ngedly connected to the body of the crib at its lower edge so that it can be opened by swinging outwardly and downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 2 to form a dressing table. Hingedly connected at or near the upper edge of the crib side panel 16, there is provided a support panel 22 which swings out at the crib side from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position extending downwardly from the outer edge of the lower crib side 16 as shown in FIG. 2 to engage the floor and to provide an outer support for the crib side 16. The support panel 22 may be extended to the position shown in FIG. 2 merely by the force of gravity. However, the

panel is preferably provided with a linkage rod 23 pivotal 1y connected to the crib body at one end and to the support panel 22 at the other end and arranged in substantially parallel relationship to the crib side panel 116- A similar linkage rod may be provided at the other end of the support panel if desired. The linkage rod not only provides for positive extension operation of the support panel 22, but it more importantly provides for positive stabilization of the panel 22 in the open position so that it cannot be inadvertently kicked away from the position of support beneath the side panel 16. The edges of panels 16 and 22, and the associated parts are preferably cut down sufficiently to provide a slotted opening for the linkage rod 23 when these panels are in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1 so that the linkage rod 23 is completely concealed.

When in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the crib side panel 16 and the support panel 22 are both held in position by means of conventional bolt latches 24 and 26. For additional stability for the side panel '16 in the closed position, suitable stop members (not shown) may be provided for side panel 16 at the edges of the end panels 10 and 12 to prevent the side panel 16 from swinging inwandly beyond the latching position. The side panel 22 is conveniently provided with a handle 28 by means of which it can be lowered to the position shown in FIG. 2, and raised again to the closed position shown in FIG. 1.

When in the lowered position shown in FIG. 2, the side panel 16 is supported by the support panel 22 in a substantially horizontal position which is at a convenient height to serve as a dressing table for the infant. For this purpose, the inner surface of side panel 16, which becomes the upper surface of the dressing table, is preferably provided with a pillow-like pad 30 which is covered with a moisture-impervious material.

Within the main body of the crib, there is provided a conventional crib mattress 32 which is preferably of the bassinet size. In a preferred construction, the mattress space within the crib is made slightly oversize so that a standard crib bumper pad 34 may be fitted around the outer circumferential edges of the mattress 32 on the three sides enclosed by the end panels 10 and 12 and the side panel 14. This arrangement will be more fully understood by reference to the sectional side 'view of FIG. which will be described more fully below. The bumper pad function at the crib side panel 16 is fulfilled by the pad 30 when the panel 16 is in the closed position.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the support panel 22 is conveniently provided with an enclosed shelf or rack '36 for holding baby powder, baby oil, and other similar supplies which must be conveniently at hand when changing and dressing the baby. Typical containers of these supplies are indicated in phantom at 38.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a storage cabinet is provided beneath the mattress 32 in the main body of the crib. This storage cabinet preferably has an access opening at the end of the crib beneath panel 10, and it may conveniently include shelves 40 and 42, the bottom 44 of the crib structure serving as a third shelf. Each shelf may be provided with a convenient pull-out tray 45, a drawer-like structure to make the contents of the cabinet more easily available. The cabinet is conveniently provided with a door 46 which essentially forms an extension of the end panel when in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1. The door 46 is hingedly connected to the body of the crib at the side opposite to the side panel 16 which forms the dressing table. Thus, the interior of the cabinet is fully visible and available to the person who is tending the baby at the dressing table. The contents of the cabinet can be reached with one hand while keeping the other hand on the baby to keep him from rolling off of the table. The door 46 is provided with a conventional latch mechanism, such as a magnetic latch as illustrated at 48.

Alternatively, if desired, the cabinet access door 46 may be hingedly connected to the bottom panel 44 of 4 l the crib, and limited in its opening to a substantially horizontal position by one or more chains. By that arrangement (not illustrated), the door 46 becomes a shelf for temporary storage of clothing.

FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the crib of FIG. 1, as viewed towards the end panel 12, and with the side panel 16 open as illustrated in FIG. 2. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the vertical dimension of the support panel 22 is preferably made such that the dressing table surface formed by the crib side panel 16 is not quite horizontal, but is sloped slightly inwlandly towards the body of the crib. By this arrangement, there is a slight constraint for the baby to prevent him from rolling outwardly and olf of the dressing table and urging him to roll, if at all, back onto the crib mattress.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, an additional cabinet enclosed by a cabinet door 50 is preferably provided at the end of the crib opposite to the cabinet door 46. As indicated at 52, the cabinet door 50 is again hinged at the side of the crib opposite to the crib side panel 16 so as to make the interior of the cabinet at door 50 visible and available to the person who is tending the baby. The cabinet closed by door 50 may be of a construction similar to that previously described in conjunction with door 46, or it may be simply an open cabinet without shelves, and possibly provided with a clothes hanger rod as illustrated and described more fully below in connection with FIG. 5. The cabinet door 50 may be alternatively hinged at the bottom edge as described above for cabinet door 46.

For convenience in moving the crib, end panel 12 is preferably provided with suitable handle or handles 54 by means of which the end of the crib supported by the feet 20 may be raised so that the crib can be moved from place to place upon Wheels 18. Despite this easy mobility, as soon as the crib is again lowered onto the legs 20, it is then automatically constrained from further undesired movement.

FIG. 4 is a view of the crib of FIG. '1 taken from the direction of side panel 14, the side at which both of the cabinet doors 46 and 50 are hinged.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the crib taken at section 5-5 of FIG. 3. This figure illustrates a preferred structural arrangement within the body of the crib. The mattress 32 is supported upon a horizontal mattress support panel 56, which also forms the top of the enclosures of the cabinets beneath it. The two cabinets are separated by a central panel 58. The cabinet served by the door 50 may be provided with a hanger rod from which the infants clothing may be hung. This cabinet may also be used for the purpose of storing a stack of diapers.

The bumper pad 34 is preferably supported at its lower edge upon the mattress support panel 56, sufiicient space being provided for the combination of the mattress 32 and the bumper pad 34. This assures that the bumper pad remains securely in place, and that the space for the baby on the mattress 32 is not encroached upon by the bumper pad 34. The mattress 32 is preferably of standard bassinet crib size, being only about 17 inches in width and 35 /2 inches in length. Thus, the overall outside width of the crib, including the wheels, when in the closed condition illustrated in FIG. 1, is in the order of two feet. This permits easy movement of the entire crib, with its built-in dressing table, and with its built-in storage cabinet with all of the babys clothing, from one room to another through standard thirty-inch wide doorways. This movement of the crib is greatly eased by the provision of wheels 18 which are of substantial size and which therefore easily roll over doorsills and rug edges.

One of the most important advantages of this invention resides in the fact that one of the most frequent operations in baby care is removing the baby from the crib to change its diaper, and then putting the baby back into the crib. In a conventional situation, a crib side must be lowered to get the baby out of the crib. With the present invention, once the crib side panel 16 is opened, the dressing table is immediately available with a minimum of lifting and moving of the baby. When the baby is changed, he can be slid back into the crib without fully lifting him, and the side raised and latched again.

In order to enhance the appearance of the crib and to add to the portability of it, a recess '62 is preferably provided in the side of the crib body as shown in FIG. 2 to receive the support panel 22. Thus, when panel 22 is in the folded position shown in FIG. 1, it fits into the recess '62 and presents a smooth appearance with the side of the crib body below the recess 62. As an alternative feature, the linkage rod 23 may be concealed within the recess 62. With such an alternative arrangement, the linkage rod 23 may be positioned in from the edge of the panel 22 and pivotally connected, or hinged, at the crib body above the lower margin of the recess '62.

The support panel 22 shown in the drawings is hingedly connected at the very uppermost edge of the side panel 16. Thus, this connection is at the outermost edge of the panel 16 when in the open position. As an alternative construction, this hinged connection may be made at a position below the uppermost edge of side panel 16 so that there is some overhang of the outer edge of panel 1-6 when in the open position. This provides additional toe room for the person tending the baby. Another alternative construction to provide additional toe room is to cut out the central portion of the support panel 22, essentially leaving separate leg portions on each end thereof beneath the shelf 36.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown in the drawings at it is when the major rigid parts are composed of wood, it is apparent that the invention can be carried out using metals, plastics, or other materials or combinations of materials for these parts.

From the preceding description, it is believed to be quite apparent that the invention satisfies all of the various objectives set forth at the beginning of the specification, and possesses all of the various advantages sought for in this invention.

While this invention has been shown and described in connection with a particular preferred embodiment, it is apparent that various changes and modifications, in addition to those mentioned above, may be made by those who are skilled in the art without departing from the basic features of the invention. Accordingly, it is the intention of the applicant to protect all variations and modifications within the true spirit and valid scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination crib bed and dressing table for'infants comprising a crib body having a side panel hingedly fastened at its bottom edge to said crib body to open by swinging outwardly and downwardly to a substantially horizontal position to serve as a dressing table for the infant, said side panel comprising substantially the entire side of said crib body.

2. A crib as claimed in claim 1 wherein a support means is provided and hingedly connected substantially at the upper edge of said side panel and dimensioned to reach the toor to support said side panel in said substantially horizontal position when said side panel is opened.

3. A crib as claimed in claim 2 wherein said support means comprises a substantially continuous panel.

4. A crib as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided a supporting rack shelf for baby powder and other supplies attached to and forming part of said support panel.

5. A crib as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of Wheels at one end and a pair of legs at the other end, and handles positioned upon said crib body above said legs to lift the end supported upon said legs for movement of said crib upon said wheels.

6. A crib as claimed in claim 1 wherein said crib body comprises a mattress support portion, and wherein said crib body defines at least one storage cabinet positioned and arranged beneath said mattress support portion.

7. A crib as claimed in claim 6 wherein the structure of said cabinet includes at least one access opening at an end of said crib.

8. A crib as claimed in claim 7 wherein a hinged door is provided for said access opening of said cabinet, the hinges of said door being attached at an edge of said cabinet remote from said hinged connection of said crib side panel.

9. A crib as claimed in claim 8 wherein said hinges of said access door are fastened at the vertical edge of the access opening of said cabinet on the side of said crib opposite to the side at which said side panel of said crib which lowers to form said dressing table is hinged.

10. A crib as claimed in claim 8 wherein two storage cabinets are provided within said crib and within said space beneath said mattress support portion, said cabinets having access openings at opposite ends of said crib, and both of said cabinets having hinged access doors as defined in claim 8.

11. A crib as claimed in claim 2 wherein said crib is provided with at least one end panel, and wherein there is provided a latching means attached to said support means at an outside edge portion thereof and positioned in spaced relation beneath the hinged connection of said support means to said crib side panel, said latching means being operable to latch the side edge of said supporting means and said side panel to said end panel of said crib when said side panel is in the closed position to maintain both said supporting member and said side panel in a vertical closed position.

12. A crib as claimed in claim 2 wherein said support means is operable to extend outwardly and downwardly by means of gravity forces as said hinged side panel is opened.

13. A crib as claimed in claim 2 wherein a linkage rod is hingedly connected at its respective ends to said support means and said crib body and arranged substantially parallel to said hinged side panel to control the opening of said support means and to stabilize said support means in the open position.

14. A crib as claimed in claim 6 including a plurality of wheels of substantial size supporting at least a portion of the weight of said crib to provide ease of movement from room to room.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,327,242 1/1920 La Rue et al 312250 X 2,570,609 10/ 1951 Taylor 52 X 2,662,231 12/1953 King 5-2 2,726,913 12/1955 Freeman 312-250 X 2,787,007 4/ 1957 Erdkamp 52 3,127,620 4/1964 Peterson 599 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 593 

